SAIC Camera Arts 2012: Day 5 - Comic Strip Center and Beursschouwburg

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Day 5 - Comic Strip Center and Beursschouwburg

Day number five and it's all about some cartoons and performance art. This morning we had a tasty breakfast and headed off to the Belgian Comic Strip Center to get our fill of all things comic related. The permanent collection contains a series of installations detailing the history and intricate process of comic strip creation, which has a deeply rich tradition in Belgium. Perhaps you've heard of the new Steven Speilberg directed The Adventures of Tin Tin? The original cartoon was created by Georges Remi in 1929 in Brussels and was immediately an instant success thus its recent adaptation for the silver screen.

Also showing was an exhibit of Portuguese cartoon work from various artists in several disciplines. It's definitely interesting to see the many approaches to comic strip creation from across the globe. The language barrier couldn't quite be broken but the museum was a wonderful experience and one could certainly take in all of the marvelous artwork and sculptural installations on hand. The book store and gift shop was worth the price of admission alone. I should also mention the amazing architecture of the building itself. The famous Belgian architect Victor Horta designed the impressive Art Nouveau building in 1906 and the Comic Strip Center moved into the space in 1989. If you're in Brussels it is most definitely worth a visit!

In the next post, I'll explain exactly what a Beursscouwburg is and why you would love it.